CN107105912B

CN107105912B - Modular sifter and juicing device

Info

Publication number: CN107105912B
Application number: CN201580051190.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·霍尔兹鲍尔; S·索尔
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Current assignee: Fansongni Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-23
Filing date: 2015-08-18
Publication date: 2020-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2035-08-18
Also published as: JP2017529926A; EP3197325B1; JP6200623B1; WO2016045876A1; RU2017113686A; EP3197325A1; CN107105912A; US20170295982A1; US10499758B2; TR201818963T4

Abstract

A modular screen (100) for a juicing device is disclosed, comprising: a first module (110) comprising a pattern of first protrusions (112) having a first edge region (113); and a second module (120) comprising a pattern of second protrusions (122) having second edge regions (123) for abutting adjacent first edge regions when the first module is engaged with the second module, wherein each first edge region and abutting second edge region define a plurality of apertures (150) for passage of juice. A juicing device comprising such a modular sieve is also disclosed.

Description

Modular sifter and juicing device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a modular screen for a juicing device, wherein the modular screen comprises a first module and a second module for engaging with the first module to form the modular screen.

The invention also relates to a juicing device comprising such a modular sieve.

Background

In modern society, there is a drive towards healthy life. For this reason, many consumers prefer to consume fresh produce as part of a healthy diet. Examples of such fresh produce are juices freshly extracted from juice-containing foods such as fruits and vegetables. Such fresh juice may be produced using a juicing apparatus in which there may be a chopping element to chop the food products, the chopping element cooperating with a sieve for extracting juice from the chopped food products. This freshly extracted juice is considered healthier, better tasting than commercially available packaged juice, which may be less fresh and may contain undesirable additives such that the juice is no longer considered pure juice.

However, one of the main obstacles to the regular use of such juicing devices is the cleaning process. In particular, sieves are notoriously difficult to clean because solid parts of the extracted food product, such as pulp, may get stuck in the pores of the sieve and may be difficult to remove from such a sieve, for example because the pores are too small for a cleaning brush or pad to easily penetrate the pores. This cumbersome cleaning process often prevents a person from using the juicing device.

For example, GB 2224456B discloses a centrifugal juicer comprising a rotatable filter device arranged in a juice collector, wherein the filter device comprises a pair of coaxially arranged filter baskets, each filter basket having a plurality of wall members with spaces therebetween, the wall members of one basket being aligned with the spaces of the other basket so as to define filter flutes between adjacent wall members. In the operating state, wall members of one filter basket, e.g. the inner basket, are aligned with spaces between wall members of the other filter basket, e.g. the outer basket, to form a filter tank. After the juice extraction process is finished, the baskets may be separated from each other for cleaning purposes. However, it has been found that the space between the wall parts can be difficult to clean; in particular, due to the fact that these spaces are mostly enclosed, these spaces can only be cleaned using cleaning implements such as brushes and the like, which can be cumbersome and potentially dangerous as the basket may need to be handled repeatedly in order to provide manual access to all the spaces.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention seeks to provide a modular sieve for a juicer that can be cleaned more easily.

The present invention also seeks to provide a juicing device comprising such a modular sieve.

According to an aspect, there is provided a modular sieve for a juicing device, the sieve comprising: a first module comprising a pattern of first protrusions, the first protrusions having a first edge region; and a second module comprising a pattern of second protrusions having second edge regions for abutting adjacent first edge regions when the first module is engaged with the second module, wherein each first edge region and abutting second edge region define a plurality of apertures for passage of juice.

The provision of holes or apertures for the passage of juice being defined by the abutting edges of the projections of the cooperating modules passing through the sieve, i.e. having a perimeter defined by the abutting edges of the projections of the cooperating modules passing through the sieve, i.e. the apertures are closed or complete only when the modules are engaged to form the sieve, allows for easier cleaning of the sieve in a separated form, as the perimeter of the apertures is divided over a plurality of edge portions, i.e. edge portions of different modules. Thus, when the screen is detached or disassembled, each hole is opened, since each module only contains a part of the hole, which can be easily cleaned without the need for cleaning implements, for example by flushing, thereby facilitating the cleaning process of the screen and reducing the amount of treatment required by each module during the cleaning process.

Each first edge region may include a plurality of cutouts that partially define the aperture. This facilitates easy cleaning of the first edge region, since the cut-out can be easily rinsed, in particular when the cut-out has a stepped or hemispherical shape.

Each second edge region may comprise a plurality of further cut-outs, wherein each aperture is defined by one of the cut-outs and one of the further cut-outs when the first module is engaged with the second module. This further facilitates cleaning of the screen. The further cut-outs may have the same shape as the cut-outs to create symmetrical, i.e. regular, holes, which may facilitate the juicing process.

In one embodiment, the first and second protrusions are tapered to increase the overall length of the adjoining edge regions of the assembled standard screen, which is advantageous for increasing the porosity of the modular screen, as more apertures may be defined by the adjoining edge regions.

In one embodiment, the corresponding pattern is a wave pattern. This is a particularly suitable mode as it further increases the overall length of the edge region of the respective module so that the porosity of the sieve can be increased to facilitate a higher juice output rate during the juicing process.

The second module still further comprises a plurality of first additional projections opposite the second projections, each first additional projection having a first additional edge region, wherein the modular sieve may further comprise a third module comprising a pattern of second additional projections having a second additional edge region for abutting an adjacent first additional edge region when the second module is engaged with the third module, wherein each first additional edge region and the abutting second additional edge region define a plurality of additional apertures for the passage of juice. The addition of additional modules to the modular sieve increases the porosity of the sieve screen and, therefore, the rate at which juice can be produced by the modular sieve when used in a juice extractor.

The second protrusion and the first further protrusion may have the same shape.

The first protrusion may include a first rib adjacent the first edge region and/or the second protrusion may include a second rib adjacent the second edge region for reducing the amount of food product pulp that can enter the aperture 150 during operation of the juice extractor device including the assembled modular sieve.

The modular screen may further comprise a support cage for holding the respective modules. This increases the stability of the modular screen when assembled in a cage, as the cage prevents the various modules from being laterally separated from each other.

According to another aspect, there is provided a juicing device comprising a modular sieve according to any one of the above embodiments. Such juicing devices benefit from easier cleaning, which may increase customer satisfaction with such devices.

In one embodiment, the juice extractor is a horizontal squeeze juice extractor.

In an alternative embodiment, the juice extractor is a vertical squeeze juice extractor.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one aspect of a prior art juicing device;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a portion of a modular screen according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 schematically depicts an aspect of a portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a portion of a modular screen according to another embodiment;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a cross-section of a modular screen according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a modular screen according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a modular screen in accordance with yet a further embodiment;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a modular screen in accordance with yet a further embodiment; and

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a modular screen in accordance with yet a further embodiment.

Detailed Description

It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a known juice extractor 1, here a centrifugal juice extractor. Such a juice extractor 1 comprises a housing 2 with a rotary body 3, the rotary body 3 being rotatably mounted in the housing 2. The rotating body 3 includes a base 4, a grater 5 mounted on an upper surface of the base 4, and a receiving chamber 7 erected at a periphery of the base 4 and outwardly diverged in a conical shape to form a fruit or vegetable. A cylindrical guide 8 feeds the fruit into the chamber 7, a juice outlet 9 is formed around the outer surface of the sieve 6 to receive the juice pushed through the sieve 6, and a pulp outlet 11 is formed at the upper end of the sieve 6 to receive the pulp pushed from the chamber 7.

When the rotary body 3 is rotated by the motor 12, the sieve 6 and the grater 5 are rotated. The fruit or vegetable inserted into the juice extractor is guided onto the grater 5 by the guide 8 and is turned into pulp and juice. Then, the pulp and juice are pushed radially outward by the centrifugal force of the rotating body 3. The sieve 6 has a plurality of perforations or holes 13 therein through which the juice is urged to flow, but the pulp remains in the body 3 so that the juice is separated from the pulp and flows into the juice outlet 9. The pulp remaining in the chamber 7 is pushed upwards towards the pulp outlet 11.

As previously mentioned, a particular drawback of such a juicing device 1 is the difficulty associated with cleaning the sieve 6. Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide a modular screen for the juicing device 1, or indeed any other suitable type of juicing device comprising a rotating or fixed screen, for example any suitable horizontal or vertical squeeze juicing device with a rotating auger and a fixed screen, which can be cleaned with less effort and which does not require cleaning implements such as cleaning brushes.

Fig. 2 schematically depicts an aspect of a modular sieve 100 according to an embodiment for use in such a juicing device. Modular screen 100 includes a first module 110 and a second module 120, with first module 110 including a plurality of first protrusions 112 extending from a body of first module 110, and second module 120 including a plurality of second protrusions 122 extending from a body of second module 120. The first and

second protrusions

112, 122 are shaped such that the protrusions are staggered when the first module 110 is engaged with the second module 120. In other words, the first edge area 113 of the first protrusion 112 and the second edge area 123 of the second module 120 the second protrusion 122 fit into each other in an abutting manner, thereby defining the boundary line 115.

This is more clearly shown in fig. 3, which fig. 3 schematically shows the first edge region 113 of the first protrusion 112 engaging the second edge region 123 of the second protrusion 122. In this embodiment, the first edge area 113 comprises a plurality of hemispherical cutouts 114 and the second edge area 123 comprises a plurality of hemispherical further cutouts 124, the cutouts 114 and the further cutouts 124 being adapted to combine to define a plurality of circular apertures 150 on a borderline 115 between the first edge portion 113 and the second edge portion 123. In other words, the aperture 150 is partially defined by the cutout 114 and partially defined by the further cutout 124, such that the aperture 150 is only present when the first module 110 is engaged with the second module 120.

Upon separation of the first module 110 from the second module 120, the aperture 150 will break up into a cut-out 114 on the first edge region 113 and a further cut-out 124 on the second edge region 123, which cuts can be cleaned by simply washing the first module 110 and the second module 120, since the aperture 150 is broken up into an open structure, i.e. an aperture portion that is substantially not closed, which means that food pulp, i.e. food fibres etc. cannot get stuck.

In this regard, it is noted that in fig. 3, both the first edge region 113 and the second edge region 123 comprise a cut-out, by way of non-limiting example only. For example, it is also possible that one of the first and

second protrusions

112, 122 comprises a continuous edge area, such that the aperture 150 will be defined by a cut-out on one of the edge areas and a continuous or straight portion of the adjoining edge area. Furthermore, the cut-out 114 and the further cut-out 124 are only shown by way of non-limiting example as having a hemispherical shape.

It should be understood that the cutout may have any suitable shape, and that the cutout 114 may have the same shape or a different shape than the other cutouts 124. For example, fig. 4 schematically illustrates an aspect of a modular screen 100 according to an alternative embodiment, wherein the hemispherical cut-outs on the first edge region 113 of the first protrusion 112 and on the second edge region 123 of the second protrusion 122 are replaced by stepped cut-outs such that when the first module 110 is engaged with the second module 120, a rectangular aperture 150, such as a rectangular or square aperture 150, is formed when the first edge region 113 abuts the second edge region 123.

Returning to fig. 3, cut-out 114 and additional cut-out 124 may be of any suitable size to prevent food product pulp from passing through modular screen 100 when assembled for use. For example, in the case of a hemispherical incision, the incision may have a radius r in the range of 0.1-0.3mm, e.g., about 0.1 or 0.2 mm. Adjacent cutouts may be spaced apart by a distance l, which may be selected in combination with the radii described above, to define the porosity of modular screen 100 when assembled. For example, the porosity of modular screen 100 may be increased by decreasing distance l and decreased by increasing distance l. In one embodiment, r ═ l. In an alternative embodiment, r < 1. In another embodiment, r > 1. In the context of the present application, the porosity of modular sieve 100 is defined as the percentage of the total surface area of modular sieve 100 through which juice can flow out, i.e., the portion of the total surface area defined by holes 150.

Returning to fig. 2, note that when assembled, the porosity of modular screen 100 may be increased by selecting the shape of first protrusions 112 of first modules 110 and second protrusions 122 of second modules 120, for example, increasing the overall length of boundary 115 between first edge region 113 and second edge region 123. In one embodiment, the first protrusion 112 may taper (taper) from the body of the first module 110, and the second protrusion 122 may taper from the body of the second module in order to increase the length of the boundary 115.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, first protrusion 112 and second protrusion 122 are each shaped in a wave pattern defining protrusion 150, wherein the overall shape of first protrusion 112 and second protrusion 122, respectively, define such a wave, such as a sine wave, to further increase the length of boundary 115. It is obvious that the wave-shaped pattern defined by the first protrusions 112 should be complementary to the wave-shaped pattern defined by the second protrusions 122, so that these protrusions can engage each other to define the boundary line 115 as described before.

As shown in fig. 5, the first module 110 may further include a first alignment feature 116, and the second module 120 may further include a second alignment feature 126, wherein the first alignment feature 116 and the second alignment feature 126 are designed to engage each other when the first module 110 is engaged with the second module 120. This may, for example, reduce or even prevent accidental displacement of the second module 20 relative to the first module 110, i.e., accidental disassembly of the modular screen 100. To this end, one of the first and

second alignment members

116, 126 may comprise a protrusion for engaging with a receptacle on the other of the first and

second alignment members

116, 126, wherein a tight fit between the protrusion and the receptacle may be established during engagement such that a certain amount of force will be required to separate the first module 110 from the second module 120. Other suitable arrangements for securing the first module 110 and the second module 120 relative to each other will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In fig. 5, the first module 110 and the second module 120 additionally include a plurality of ribs 160, the ribs 160 aligning to form a pattern of ribs 160 when the first module 110 is engaged with the second module 120. Such a rib 160 is particularly advantageous, for example, when used on a stationary screen of a squeeze juicer. When assembled, ribs 160 may be located on the inner surface of modular screen 100. The ribs 160 may help to prevent food product pulp from following the rotation of the rotary auger during juicing in such a press juicer, thereby reducing contamination of such pulp by the aperture 150 and facilitating transport of the pulp in the axial direction, i.e. along the ribs 160, e.g. towards the pulp outlet of the juicing device. Therefore, this further increases the ease of cleaning of the first module 110 and the second module 120.

In this regard, it is noted that modular screen 100 is not necessarily limited to a pair of modules, namely, a first module 110 and a second module 120. In one embodiment, modular screen 100 may be expanded with additional modules, for example, to further increase the porosity of modular screen 100 or at least increase the total number of holes of modular screen 100 through which juice may flow.

An exemplary embodiment of such a modular screen 100 is schematically illustrated in fig. 6, where there is a third module 130 for engaging with the second module 120. To this end, the second module 120 comprises a plurality of first further protrusions 127 opposite the second protrusions 122, i.e. extending in opposite directions from opposite regions of the body of the second module 120. Each of the first further projections 128 has a first further edge region 128. The third module 130 comprises a pattern of second further protrusions 137 with second further edge areas 138 for abutting adjacent first further edge areas 128 when the second module 120 is engaged with the third module 130.

As shown in fig. 6, the first additional edge region 128 includes a plurality of cutouts that define a plurality of additional apertures 152 when the second module 120 is engaged with the third module 130. In other words, the additional aperture 152 is generally bounded by the first additional edge region 128 and the second additional edge region 138 when the second module 120 is engaged with the third module 130, while the additional aperture 152 is broken down as described above when the third module 130 is disengaged from the second module 120.

In fig. 6, as a non-limiting example, only the first further edge region 128 of the second module 120 comprises a cut-out. It should be understood that it is equally feasible that only the second further edge region 138 of the third module 130 comprises such a cut-out, or that the first further edge region 128 and the second further edge region 138 comprise such a cut-out, so that the apertures 152 are delimited by corresponding cuts on these edge regions, as described before.

Furthermore, as shown in fig. 6, the second protrusion 122 and the first further protrusion 127 have the same shape, for example a wave pattern shape, but it should be understood that it is also possible that the second protrusion 122 and the first further protrusion 127 have different shapes. It should be further understood that other modules may be added to modular screen 100, such as in accordance with the teachings of fig. 6.

The various modules of modular screen 100, e.g., first module 110, second module 120, and optional additional modules (e.g., third module 130), may be made of any suitable material, preferably dishwasher safe. Suitable materials include, for example, plastics, metals, or metal alloys such as stainless steel, and the like. The modules are preferably made of the same material, although it is feasible that different modules are made of different materials.

To fix the various modules of modular screen 100 when modular screen 100 is assembled, the various modules may be placed in a basket 50 as schematically shown in fig. 7. Basket 50 is generally sized such that the individual modules of modular screen 100 fit closely into basket 50, thereby preventing lateral displacement, e.g., accidental disengagement of the individual modules relative to one another. Basket 50 may optionally include a cover 52 for receiving the various modules of modular screen 100 within basket 50.

The basket 50 and optional cover 52 may be made of any suitable material, for example, plastic, metal, or metal alloys such as stainless steel, and the like. In one embodiment, basket 50 and optional cover 52 are made of the same material as the individual modules of modular screen 100. In fig. 7, an auger 60 is also shown; if the modular sieve 100 is a stationary sieve for a squeeze juicer, as described above, in this case the auger may be inserted into the modular sieve 100, wherein the auger 60 may be engaged with the motor 12 of the juicing device 1 for rotation in the assembled modular sieve 100 during juicing with the juicing device 1.

Fig. 8 schematically depicts an alternative embodiment of the modular screen 100 as shown in fig. 5, wherein the ribs 160 are replaced by a first rib 261 on the first projection 112 of the first module 110 and a second rib 262 on the second projection 122 of the second module 120, wherein the first rib 261 and the second rib are positioned such that when the first module 110 is engaged with the second module 120, these ribs are immediately in front of the portion of the boundary line 115 defined by the first edge region 113 and the adjoining second edge region 123. It should be understood that "immediately before … …" is used in the context of the direction of rotation of the auger 60 when installed in the juice extractor 1.

In other words, during rotation of the auger 60, the above-described portion of the boundary line 115 is immediately behind, i.e., on the downstream side or downstream of, one of the first rib 261 and the second rib 262. This largely prevents food product pulp from entering the aperture 150 because the first and

second ribs

261, 262 force the pulp through the aperture 150 during operation of the juicer 100, while juice can still flow out of the modular sieve 100 due to the pressure that exists during this operation. Furthermore, the

ribs

261 and 262 help to guide the pulp in an axial direction, e.g. towards the pulp outlet of the juice extractor.

Fig. 9 schematically illustrates another alternative embodiment of modular screen 100 as shown in fig. 5, wherein ribs 160 are replaced by first ribs 112 along the edges of first projections 112 and second ribs 222 along the edges of second projections 122. In this embodiment, boundary 115 is bounded by first rib 212 abutting second protrusion 122, thereby forming boundary 115 protruding from an inner surface of modular screen 100. In this embodiment, the

edge regions

113 and 123 form a portion of the first rib 212 and the second rib 222, respectively, such that the aperture 150 is bounded by the first rib 212 and the second rib 222. The amount of protrusion of the boundary 115 is determined by the heights of the first rib 212 and the second rib 222. The height may be selected such that the auger 60 scrapes the elevated boundary 115 such that food pulp, such as fiber, is scraped by the auger 60. This therefore reduces the amount of food product pulp that gets stuck in the aperture 150 so that the first module 110 and the second module 120 can be more easily cleaned.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. A modular screen (100) for a juicing device, the screen comprising:

a first module (110) comprising a pattern of first protrusions (112), the first protrusions (112) having a first edge region (113); and

a second module (120), the second module (120) comprising a pattern of second protrusions (122), the second protrusions (122) having second edge regions (123),

wherein each first edge region (113) comprises a plurality of cuts, and when the first module is engaged with the second module, each first edge region (113) abuts a respective adjacent second edge region such that each first edge region and the abutting respective adjacent second edge region define a plurality of apertures (150) at the plurality of cuts for passage of juice.

2. The modular screen (100) of claim 1, wherein the cut-out has a stepped shape.

3. The modular screen (100) of claim 1, wherein the cut-out has a hemispherical shape.

4. The modular screen (100) of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein each second edge region (123) comprises a plurality of further cut-outs, wherein each aperture (150) is defined by one of the cut-outs and one of the further cut-outs when the first module (110) is engaged with the second module (120).

5. The modular screen (100) of claim 4, wherein the further cut-outs have the same shape as the cut-outs.

6. The modular screen (100) of any of claims 1-3 and 5, wherein the first protrusion (112) is tapered.

7. The modular screen (100) of any of claims 1-3 and 5, wherein the respective pattern is a wave pattern.

8. The modular screen (100) of any of claims 1-3 and 5, wherein the second module further comprises a plurality of first further projections (127) opposite the second projections (122), each of the first further projections having a first further edge region (128);

the modular sieve further comprises a third module (130), the third module (130) comprising a pattern of second further protrusions (137), the second further protrusions (137) having second further edge regions (138), the second further edge regions (138) for abutting adjacent first further edge regions when the second module is engaged with the third module, wherein each first further edge region and the abutting second further edge regions define a plurality of further apertures (152) for passing juice.

9. The modular screen (100) of any of claims 1-3 and 5, wherein the first protrusion (112) comprises a first rib (212, 261) adjacent to the first edge region (113) and/or the second protrusion (122) comprises a second rib (222, 262) adjacent to the second edge region (123).

10. The modular screen (100) of claim 9, wherein the first rib (212) abuts the second rib (222) when the first module (110) is engaged with the second module (120) such that the first rib and the second rib define the aperture (150).

11. A modular screen (100) as claimed in any of claims 1-3, 5 and 10 further comprising a support cage (50) for holding each module (110, 120, 130).

12. The modular screen (100) of any of claims 1-3, 5 and 10, wherein the apertures (150) have a maximum diameter or cross-section in the range of 0.1-0.6 mm.

13. A juicing device comprising a modular sieve (100) according to any one of claims 1-12.

14. The juicing device of claim 13, wherein the juicing device is a vertical or horizontal squeeze juicer.